'Ready or Not?' Led by Glenda Taylor

Our theme this morning is ready or not. I would like us to focus firstly on Paul’s message of being ready by looking closely at our reading from Thessalonians, secondly to consider what light our Matthew reading sheds on Paul’s message and finally to consider our own readiness.

Call to worship (verses 3 and 4 of StF 21)
Christ is King!!
He left all the glory of heaven.
Christ is King!
Born to share in our pain;
Crucified, for sinners atoning, risen, exalted, soon to come again.

Sing the song! God’s Spirit is poured out among us.
Sing the song! He has made us anew.
Every member part of the Body; given his power, his will to seek and do.
Words and Music (c) Brian Hoare/Jubilate Hymns.Administered by The Jubilate Group, Kitley House, St Katherines Road, Torquay TQ1 4DE < [email protected]>

​StF 21 Born in Song

Prayer.
Loving God, as we sang in our opening hymn, we are happy to come before you this morning to worship you for you alone are worthy to be praised. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. All that is in the earth is yours – the valleys, mountains, oceans, land, pastures and the trees. All around us we see evidence of your goodness to us through the wonderful things you have provided for us.

We thank you for all you have done for us and most of all for sending Jesus to put things right between us and you. We are very glad to be part of your family and also glad that you are with us every moment of every day whether we feel on top of the world or very low. Help us to recognise and acknowledge the encounters we have with you and then to share them openly with others for we ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.
Amen.

There are times, Father, when we have seen those who are broken and not been moved to compassion. We have heard people mourning and not given them our time. We have witnessed oppression and not raised our voices. We have seen the stranger and not said a word. We have done things that have hurt others, damaged your creation and limited our potential; we have not done things that build up others. We know that you are hiding in all strangers and so we come before you to say sorry for what we have done and what we have not done.

Father we are truly sorry and ask you to forgive us.

​Thank you that we know our sins are forgiven. Help us knowing this to live out our lives in a way which reflects something of Jesus for we ask all this through Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord.
Amen
​
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who ……..    

​Video of the rest of the Service ( readings, songs, Message and Prayers for others)

​Blessing.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, evermore.
Amen